Everything is okay, I am safe. But Christ School, the school I am teaching
at has gone through some turmoil in the past day. I went to go to the staff
discipleship meeting yesterday morning, but found out we were having a
school wide assembly instead. Apparently, some of the students have been
throwing stones at faculty and their houses for the past couple of nights.
The purpose of the assembly was to figure out what the students were upset
about. Hours of dialogue went on between faculty and students, all mediated
by a student negotiation group. There were many complaints from the
students. Some of them reasonable, like having more meat in their diet, a
call box to phone, and complaints about the lack of electricity. Other
complaints, the ones they were more serious about, were absolutely
unreasonable. They wanted to have complete freedom to leave the compound on
weekends (a priviledge that once existed until trust was continuously
betrayed). They even voiced that they wanted to have the discipline master
(Peter, my coop teacher) removed. Pretty much they wanted rules and
discipline removed. They demanded immediate action. We think that there
were only about 10 key leaders to this revolution; however, when the
students met together, hundreds of them were cheering in unison. It was
pretty scary. Riots at Ugandan schools are pretty common. Christ School
has never had one, but neighboring schools have. Much damage of buildings
can occur. So after these hours of mediation, no peace agreement was
reached. The student negotiation group said that the students would riot.
Since we are living in the Christ School compound, the missionaries
evacuated us to spend the night at the mission. Kevin Bartkovich, the
headmaster, met with faculty to decide to close school indefinitely. So all
of the students left last night to avoid a riot. Soldiers were called in to
patrol. Everyone left peaceably.
So school is out for at least two weeks. All of the students are at their
homes. I'm out of commission with my teaching job. I'm sad about that. I
really loved it. But there's plenty of other ways I can serve around here.
I'll probably assist some of the missionaries or do HIV prevention education
in the government primary schools. I'm requesting that you pray for the
board of directors and faculty as they figure out how to move forward in
this situation. Pray for God's wisdom, pray that the parents of the
students will side with Christ school, pray that the school will be
preserved, that the Holy Spirit will convict the hearts of students and lead
them to repentance, that we can move on in peace. I'll actually be gone
from Saturday the 23rd to Thursday the 28th. We'll be hiking the Rwenzoris,
doing a discipleship class and spending a couple days on safari. So
hopefully by the time we get back, peace will be achieved and we can get
back to school. That is what we are hoping and praying for.
Thanks so much for reading this and for battling in prayer.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Lots to Share from this Week
Silence
6/13/07
Today, Wednesday, was chapel day. After the message given in chapel at Christ School, the students break up into Bible study groups, called cell groups. I am leading a cell group with my prayer partner Amy. Last week at cell group, things went well. Amy and I shared our testimonies and we had time for group prayer. The girls seemed responsive, their prayers were beautiful, and it went real well, especially for the first week.
This week was a much different experience. The girls didn’t speak a single word the whole 40 minutes we met. Amy and I sat there, asking questions, reading God’s word, and talking to them. But nobody uttered a single word the entire time. Ugandans are generally way more comfortable with silence than Americans. So, this is a cultural difference that I am getting used to; however, this was not just a cultural difference. Amy and I are pretty sure that the girls had taken some vow of silence. We figured they were angry that we did not take them to the market last Saturday and they were repaying us by not speaking. It was so awkward and frustrating.
The lesson that we were supposed to focus on was God’s unconditional love for us. During the awkward silence, Amy and I were convicted that we needed to model God’s unconditional love to them, despite their disrespect. For that is what unconditional love is all about. I did tell them how I was hurt by their silence, for the reason I came to Uganda was to build relationships with them and tell them about God and show them his love. I envisioned them weeping repentant tears, as the VonTrapp children did after Maria’s pinecone experience. That didn’t happen. I guess even though things were awkward and one sided, we were still able to love them, show God’s love, and start building relationships with them. We prayed for them. We asked the Holy Spirit to convict us all and bring unity and openness to the group. We claimed God’s promise from Isaiah 55:11. God’s word goes out from his mouth and does not return empty, but it accomplishes what God desires to achieve his purposes. I know God has a purpose for the words that the girls heard. Amy and I just need faith to know that it will happen, even though we may not see it in our timing. I think about how I was at the age of fifteen or so. Many people prayed for me and spoke God’s word to me, but I was so indifferent towards it. They must have been frustrated. Even though I didn’t respond to God’s word immediately, God accomplished his purposes in my life later on.
Please be in prayer for our cell group. Pray that Amy and I will be able to unconditionally love these girls so we can give them a better picture of our Father’s love. Pray for good soil in their hearts and a hunger for God and his word. Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead Amy and I to ask good questions and know how to minister to the girls.
In Christ Alone?
6/14/07
Since coming to Africa, I have met several people who have gone through Job like trials. Despite all that they have lost, they testify that they only get through it by their relationship with Christ. Yesterday I was talking with a Christ School girl on the porch. She asked me if I was a born again Christian. I said yes and asked her if she was. She said yes, she had accepted Jesus in 1999. She went on to say it was a very good thing, because just the year before, her father died in an accident (probably a motor vehicle accident as they are very common here). The death of her father left a very bleak looking situation for her mother and four other siblings. She joyfully said that God has provided for her and her family. We had dinner with a Ugandan couple last night. They have been married for 15 years and have seen three children die. They too, testified that they only were able to make it because of their relationship with God through Jesus. It made me think about how in America, we have so many things that blur our vision as to how much we need God. We have our health, we have our wealth and possessions. Here in Africa, many people don’t have that. So when someone says, the only way I make it through my life is by God’s grace and provision, it is an immensely powerful statement. In Africa, the needs are so great. It is tempting to think that if they just had enough money to get good food and healthcare and education, then things would be great. However, these material things aren’t nearly enough. Only the eternal hope and peace brought by the gospel of Jesus is enough.
Fear of Darkness
6/14/07
Several nights ago I was awakened by a frightening dream. Things here are scary enough at night with the complete darkness, noises, and all of the nightly critters. But this dream was so real, it was beyond the typical scariness. I was up for an hour, paralyzed by fear, hearing noises and feeling a strange breath against my skin. I kept praying and saying God’s word, but I was fumbling. This went on for a while until I fell back asleep, but there was definitely a presence of evil. We are continually reminded here that there is a spiritual battle going on. A battle that is not of fleshly, visible things, but against Satan and evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Since then, me and the girls have been a bit afraid of night time. Psalm 91 is read every night as we pray a hedge of protection around our minds. We really don’t have anything to fear.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you form the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91
Lots of Firsts…
6/16/07
Last night we had the village sleep out. This is where each of the mission interns goes with their prayer partner to sleep at a house in a nearby village. Amy and I went to one of my student’s houses. Her name is Esther. It was probably the most amazing experience I’ve had in my life. Here are some of the highlights:
*10 miles of hiking through Ugandan wilderness.
*Experiencing an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 while singing worship songs. It was amazing to see God’s power on display. It reminded me of the song “Did you feel the mountains tremble? Did you hear the oceans roar? When the lost began to sing of Jesus Christ the risen one.”
*Being followed by about 50 Ugandan children all because they are fascinated with “muzungus” or “white people”.
*Spending the night with a polygamy practicing family.
*Eating a rooster that we had just seen alive hours before.
*Sleeping in a mud hut.
*Chewing on sugar cane straight from the plant.
*Eating cocoa beans straight from the fruit.
*Receiving a goat as a welcoming present. If you know anything about the value of goats in Africa, you will realize that this is a ridiculously generous gift. None of the missionaries that have been here for over a decade have ever received a goat.
Needless to say this was an eye opening, incredible experience. There were many times where I found myself saying, “okay Andrea, this is really happening”. I am amazed at how you can spend enjoyable time getting to know people and not speak their language. By the time we left Esther’s house, we had many new friends. I am also amazed at their overwhelming generosity. Here is this Ugandan family giving us their best bed, preparing a feast, and sending us home with fruit and a goat! They give so much from their hearts and they don’t even have much to give. God, give me a heart like that!
God has been so good through this trip so far. He has provided safety, good health, and is opening doors to share his love through relationships. I am becoming friends with many of the Christ School girls, mostly through class, soccer, and porch talks and prayers. I gave my first chemistry quiz on Friday. I was a bit fearful as to how the students would do. Ugandans don’t really affirm you with nonverbal or verbal communication, so up until the quiz I wasn’t sure how well they understood me. Fortunately, most of the grades were great. It is neat to see how God is using my desires and calling as a teacher to show his love and share the gospel in a totally different culture.
Laughter
6/18/07
Today in class, we had a couple of minutes remaining when I came to a good place to stop in the notes. I decided to play “heads up seven up” with my students. I hesitated to do so for I remember my middle school days when we would manipulate substitute teachers into letting us play that game. However, the students are doing very well on their quizzes, they are respectful, and there were only a couple of minutes left in the class. Plus, there is not much time in their schedule for fun and laughter. The students are in school from 7:30 to 4, then wash clothes, eat dinner, or play futbol until 7, and then study until the electricity runs out at 10. Needless to say, this is how I justified the 10 minute long game at the end of class. It was glorious. They didn’t follow all of the rules, as many kids wanted to push down more than one thumb, but they loved it! It was so wonderful to hear them laughing. Ugandans laugh a lot here and I often don’t understand what they are laughing at. Today I understood. They laughed because they were having fun.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good new gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30
Although my primary job is to make sure my students learn chemistry, I realize that outlawing fun in the classroom is not the best tactic. Not many students initiate smiling here. So, I’m the initiator. It’s so rewarding to smile at someone until they smile back. It seriously makes my day. I try to feed them with smiles. When they smile in return, they usually quickly look away. There is one boy that is the exception. He sits in the back of the class and smiles and makes googily eyes at me several times throughout the class. Some times I can’t help from laughing. I really enjoy my students.
Today they wanted to know all about New York City. I told them about how Paul is moving there, the skyscrapers, the traffic, taxis, streets and Broadway. That led to the Lion King and they requested to hear me sing a song in Swahili from The Lion King. I refused knowing my “Maaaahhhshhaweeeennnnna, hagabikigaba” translated to absolutely nothing in Swahili. Next I started to tell them the twin towers and 911. Not many had heard about this. I told them about the terrorism and two girls in the front started to laugh. I was shocked. Then I remembered talking to one of the missionaries about how some people laugh at very sad things simply because so many things here are sad and they don’t want to cry. I’m beginning to see how all of the death and darkness here causes people to respond differently to grief.
I was reading Isaiah 32 today where God speaks about how his redeemed people will be: “Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.” This is what knowing Jesus is like. This is what I want to be like to my students. The people here know both physical and spiritual thirst. I pray that because I know Jesus, I can reflect him, his love, his joy, his hope and peace to my students.
We will soon leave to hike through the Rwenzori Mountains. We will be doing a discipleship course and spend a couple of days on safari. Because of this, I may not be able to update for about a week. Thank you for your support! God bless!
6/13/07
Today, Wednesday, was chapel day. After the message given in chapel at Christ School, the students break up into Bible study groups, called cell groups. I am leading a cell group with my prayer partner Amy. Last week at cell group, things went well. Amy and I shared our testimonies and we had time for group prayer. The girls seemed responsive, their prayers were beautiful, and it went real well, especially for the first week.
This week was a much different experience. The girls didn’t speak a single word the whole 40 minutes we met. Amy and I sat there, asking questions, reading God’s word, and talking to them. But nobody uttered a single word the entire time. Ugandans are generally way more comfortable with silence than Americans. So, this is a cultural difference that I am getting used to; however, this was not just a cultural difference. Amy and I are pretty sure that the girls had taken some vow of silence. We figured they were angry that we did not take them to the market last Saturday and they were repaying us by not speaking. It was so awkward and frustrating.
The lesson that we were supposed to focus on was God’s unconditional love for us. During the awkward silence, Amy and I were convicted that we needed to model God’s unconditional love to them, despite their disrespect. For that is what unconditional love is all about. I did tell them how I was hurt by their silence, for the reason I came to Uganda was to build relationships with them and tell them about God and show them his love. I envisioned them weeping repentant tears, as the VonTrapp children did after Maria’s pinecone experience. That didn’t happen. I guess even though things were awkward and one sided, we were still able to love them, show God’s love, and start building relationships with them. We prayed for them. We asked the Holy Spirit to convict us all and bring unity and openness to the group. We claimed God’s promise from Isaiah 55:11. God’s word goes out from his mouth and does not return empty, but it accomplishes what God desires to achieve his purposes. I know God has a purpose for the words that the girls heard. Amy and I just need faith to know that it will happen, even though we may not see it in our timing. I think about how I was at the age of fifteen or so. Many people prayed for me and spoke God’s word to me, but I was so indifferent towards it. They must have been frustrated. Even though I didn’t respond to God’s word immediately, God accomplished his purposes in my life later on.
Please be in prayer for our cell group. Pray that Amy and I will be able to unconditionally love these girls so we can give them a better picture of our Father’s love. Pray for good soil in their hearts and a hunger for God and his word. Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead Amy and I to ask good questions and know how to minister to the girls.
In Christ Alone?
6/14/07
Since coming to Africa, I have met several people who have gone through Job like trials. Despite all that they have lost, they testify that they only get through it by their relationship with Christ. Yesterday I was talking with a Christ School girl on the porch. She asked me if I was a born again Christian. I said yes and asked her if she was. She said yes, she had accepted Jesus in 1999. She went on to say it was a very good thing, because just the year before, her father died in an accident (probably a motor vehicle accident as they are very common here). The death of her father left a very bleak looking situation for her mother and four other siblings. She joyfully said that God has provided for her and her family. We had dinner with a Ugandan couple last night. They have been married for 15 years and have seen three children die. They too, testified that they only were able to make it because of their relationship with God through Jesus. It made me think about how in America, we have so many things that blur our vision as to how much we need God. We have our health, we have our wealth and possessions. Here in Africa, many people don’t have that. So when someone says, the only way I make it through my life is by God’s grace and provision, it is an immensely powerful statement. In Africa, the needs are so great. It is tempting to think that if they just had enough money to get good food and healthcare and education, then things would be great. However, these material things aren’t nearly enough. Only the eternal hope and peace brought by the gospel of Jesus is enough.
Fear of Darkness
6/14/07
Several nights ago I was awakened by a frightening dream. Things here are scary enough at night with the complete darkness, noises, and all of the nightly critters. But this dream was so real, it was beyond the typical scariness. I was up for an hour, paralyzed by fear, hearing noises and feeling a strange breath against my skin. I kept praying and saying God’s word, but I was fumbling. This went on for a while until I fell back asleep, but there was definitely a presence of evil. We are continually reminded here that there is a spiritual battle going on. A battle that is not of fleshly, visible things, but against Satan and evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Since then, me and the girls have been a bit afraid of night time. Psalm 91 is read every night as we pray a hedge of protection around our minds. We really don’t have anything to fear.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you form the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91
Lots of Firsts…
6/16/07
Last night we had the village sleep out. This is where each of the mission interns goes with their prayer partner to sleep at a house in a nearby village. Amy and I went to one of my student’s houses. Her name is Esther. It was probably the most amazing experience I’ve had in my life. Here are some of the highlights:
*10 miles of hiking through Ugandan wilderness.
*Experiencing an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 while singing worship songs. It was amazing to see God’s power on display. It reminded me of the song “Did you feel the mountains tremble? Did you hear the oceans roar? When the lost began to sing of Jesus Christ the risen one.”
*Being followed by about 50 Ugandan children all because they are fascinated with “muzungus” or “white people”.
*Spending the night with a polygamy practicing family.
*Eating a rooster that we had just seen alive hours before.
*Sleeping in a mud hut.
*Chewing on sugar cane straight from the plant.
*Eating cocoa beans straight from the fruit.
*Receiving a goat as a welcoming present. If you know anything about the value of goats in Africa, you will realize that this is a ridiculously generous gift. None of the missionaries that have been here for over a decade have ever received a goat.
Needless to say this was an eye opening, incredible experience. There were many times where I found myself saying, “okay Andrea, this is really happening”. I am amazed at how you can spend enjoyable time getting to know people and not speak their language. By the time we left Esther’s house, we had many new friends. I am also amazed at their overwhelming generosity. Here is this Ugandan family giving us their best bed, preparing a feast, and sending us home with fruit and a goat! They give so much from their hearts and they don’t even have much to give. God, give me a heart like that!
God has been so good through this trip so far. He has provided safety, good health, and is opening doors to share his love through relationships. I am becoming friends with many of the Christ School girls, mostly through class, soccer, and porch talks and prayers. I gave my first chemistry quiz on Friday. I was a bit fearful as to how the students would do. Ugandans don’t really affirm you with nonverbal or verbal communication, so up until the quiz I wasn’t sure how well they understood me. Fortunately, most of the grades were great. It is neat to see how God is using my desires and calling as a teacher to show his love and share the gospel in a totally different culture.
Laughter
6/18/07
Today in class, we had a couple of minutes remaining when I came to a good place to stop in the notes. I decided to play “heads up seven up” with my students. I hesitated to do so for I remember my middle school days when we would manipulate substitute teachers into letting us play that game. However, the students are doing very well on their quizzes, they are respectful, and there were only a couple of minutes left in the class. Plus, there is not much time in their schedule for fun and laughter. The students are in school from 7:30 to 4, then wash clothes, eat dinner, or play futbol until 7, and then study until the electricity runs out at 10. Needless to say, this is how I justified the 10 minute long game at the end of class. It was glorious. They didn’t follow all of the rules, as many kids wanted to push down more than one thumb, but they loved it! It was so wonderful to hear them laughing. Ugandans laugh a lot here and I often don’t understand what they are laughing at. Today I understood. They laughed because they were having fun.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good new gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30
Although my primary job is to make sure my students learn chemistry, I realize that outlawing fun in the classroom is not the best tactic. Not many students initiate smiling here. So, I’m the initiator. It’s so rewarding to smile at someone until they smile back. It seriously makes my day. I try to feed them with smiles. When they smile in return, they usually quickly look away. There is one boy that is the exception. He sits in the back of the class and smiles and makes googily eyes at me several times throughout the class. Some times I can’t help from laughing. I really enjoy my students.
Today they wanted to know all about New York City. I told them about how Paul is moving there, the skyscrapers, the traffic, taxis, streets and Broadway. That led to the Lion King and they requested to hear me sing a song in Swahili from The Lion King. I refused knowing my “Maaaahhhshhaweeeennnnna, hagabikigaba” translated to absolutely nothing in Swahili. Next I started to tell them the twin towers and 911. Not many had heard about this. I told them about the terrorism and two girls in the front started to laugh. I was shocked. Then I remembered talking to one of the missionaries about how some people laugh at very sad things simply because so many things here are sad and they don’t want to cry. I’m beginning to see how all of the death and darkness here causes people to respond differently to grief.
I was reading Isaiah 32 today where God speaks about how his redeemed people will be: “Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.” This is what knowing Jesus is like. This is what I want to be like to my students. The people here know both physical and spiritual thirst. I pray that because I know Jesus, I can reflect him, his love, his joy, his hope and peace to my students.
We will soon leave to hike through the Rwenzori Mountains. We will be doing a discipleship course and spend a couple of days on safari. Because of this, I may not be able to update for about a week. Thank you for your support! God bless!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Wesayo from Bundibugyo
Wesayo from Bundibugyo! Travel was long, but we arrived safely on Saturday. The last leg of our journey was on a very small plan from Entebbe to Bundibugyo. The flight was gorgeous and led us to worship our Creator. We were welcomed by a very large crowd of both missionaries and nationals at the air strip. At least a hundred came. It was wonderful. The first couple of days have been spent getting to know the missionaries, the mission, praying, learning the language, and just adjusting overall.
Yesterday was very eye opening. We got a tour around the whole mission. The medical clinic is bigger than I thought. It is crazy to think how peculiar we are about sanitation and sterility in the US hospitals. This clinic is filthy and yet still people are treated and healed. Crowds of people were laying on the floors with children, lots of expectant mothers. We got to the room for sick newborns. Dr. Jennifer pointed out two very sick babies. One was just sick with anemia, a pretty non serious condition in the US. Nothing like aids of malaria. We walked around for a couple more minutes then heard wailing and crying from lots of women. Jennifer went to investigate then came back and said that the anemic baby had just died. It was alive about 2 minutes ago when we saw it. It was so sad. Just a simple blood transfusion would have saved this babies life, but they lack that here. We were told about how a couple of months ago someone was sick and needed an ambulance to Kampala. An ambulance was called, but a politician was in town and paid off the ambulance driver to use the ambulance as a taxi out of here. The sick person died. Such sickness and corruption is sad. But the clinic is doing amazing things. Every day lives are saved and living conditions are improved by it.
We also got a tour around Christ School, where I’ll be teaching. I met my head teacher, Peter Kussima, he teaches chemistry. I observe today and tomorrow, then start teaching on Thursday. He’ll be with me for a week, then I have the class all to myself! I’m teaching S2, which is equivalent to about 8th grade. I just met with him to look at the lesson plans. It is nearing the end of the school year here, there are only 10 weeks left. I will teach about nine of them. The two main topics that I will cover are bases and the periodic table. I teach two classes each day, they are both 45 minutes long, but each class has an extra period each week for lab. Each class has about 40 to 45 students in it! The classroom is so tiny and they don’t have their own textbooks. Fortunately, I have a good textbook that I’ll be able to use to devise the lessons. I want to be a good teacher and I want for them to learn. Peter told me I will have to speak slowly and repeat myself often. Pray for learning to occur and relationships to be built as a tool for ministering.
Yesterday we hung out with the kids from school from 4:30 to six. We do that every day of the week. I wanted to just sit on my porch and chat with the girls, but they recruited me to play soccer. It was a lot of fun, but let me just tell you that a full hour of soccer with Ugandans right on the equator is not easy. I ended up playing goalie for the second half I was so tired. I found out later that they aren’t supposed to have a goalie because the goals are so small, they’re only about 3 feet across using two sticks. The cross country team ran around the field while we played. My they are fast! I got a nice breeze every time they passed. It was a great way to get to know some of the students and start building relationships with them on the first day. I am thankful for that. Towards the end of the game, I was all hot and sweaty and one of the girls said to me, “Madame, (that’s what they call me) the sun is eating you.” I thought it was hilarious. There are a lot of girls here, all with their own stories and needs. It’s a bit overwhelming for in my heart I want to be able to minister to all of them. I pray that I can touch many lives, but also hope and pray that God will draw certain individuals to me to minister to. That’s what Jesus did. Many of the girls here feel pressure to marry and have children at young ages such as 14 or 15. Large families are common and men have multiple wives. Sexual purity is an issue here at Christ school. Please pray that God will use the relationships that are built as a platform to share about healing through Christ, as there are a lot of physical, spiritual, and emotional wounds.
Other than that, I must say that I love it here. There’s something exciting about killing cockroaches and being frightened by lizards. There are lots of livestock here. Lots and lots of goats and chickens. Also, the cows here have horns. Yesterday I was chased off the road by one. He came pretty close to butting me. It was funny. My mosquito net is a huge blessing, I feel safe at night. It’s also miracle that I completely adjusted to the 7 hour time change on my first day. Praise God! I am not tired, I am not sick. I love the food. The missionaries are loving and encouraging.
Travel here on the roads is dangerous. There aren’t many cars, but the cars that do drive drive pretty recklessly. Also, there are dangerous motorized bikes. Pray for language and cultural barriers. It is true that English is spoken here, but the accents are thick and their body language is not affirming like here in the US. Pray that these will not be barriers for presenting the gospel.
I read Habakkuk today and found myself crying out the same things that Habakkuk said to God. Why must I look at such evil? Why is justice perverted? I am finding that I really need eyes of faith to believe that God is working and is bringing healing to this land.
Please also pray for the spiritual battle that has been present in my mind, especially at night time. I have had some very real, very frightening dreams. Pray that I will have faith in God that casts out all fear.
Thank you for all of your support. Much love to you.
Andrea
PS sorry it took so long to update. The Internet here is reliable so I may not be able to update as much as I thought.
Yesterday was very eye opening. We got a tour around the whole mission. The medical clinic is bigger than I thought. It is crazy to think how peculiar we are about sanitation and sterility in the US hospitals. This clinic is filthy and yet still people are treated and healed. Crowds of people were laying on the floors with children, lots of expectant mothers. We got to the room for sick newborns. Dr. Jennifer pointed out two very sick babies. One was just sick with anemia, a pretty non serious condition in the US. Nothing like aids of malaria. We walked around for a couple more minutes then heard wailing and crying from lots of women. Jennifer went to investigate then came back and said that the anemic baby had just died. It was alive about 2 minutes ago when we saw it. It was so sad. Just a simple blood transfusion would have saved this babies life, but they lack that here. We were told about how a couple of months ago someone was sick and needed an ambulance to Kampala. An ambulance was called, but a politician was in town and paid off the ambulance driver to use the ambulance as a taxi out of here. The sick person died. Such sickness and corruption is sad. But the clinic is doing amazing things. Every day lives are saved and living conditions are improved by it.
We also got a tour around Christ School, where I’ll be teaching. I met my head teacher, Peter Kussima, he teaches chemistry. I observe today and tomorrow, then start teaching on Thursday. He’ll be with me for a week, then I have the class all to myself! I’m teaching S2, which is equivalent to about 8th grade. I just met with him to look at the lesson plans. It is nearing the end of the school year here, there are only 10 weeks left. I will teach about nine of them. The two main topics that I will cover are bases and the periodic table. I teach two classes each day, they are both 45 minutes long, but each class has an extra period each week for lab. Each class has about 40 to 45 students in it! The classroom is so tiny and they don’t have their own textbooks. Fortunately, I have a good textbook that I’ll be able to use to devise the lessons. I want to be a good teacher and I want for them to learn. Peter told me I will have to speak slowly and repeat myself often. Pray for learning to occur and relationships to be built as a tool for ministering.
Yesterday we hung out with the kids from school from 4:30 to six. We do that every day of the week. I wanted to just sit on my porch and chat with the girls, but they recruited me to play soccer. It was a lot of fun, but let me just tell you that a full hour of soccer with Ugandans right on the equator is not easy. I ended up playing goalie for the second half I was so tired. I found out later that they aren’t supposed to have a goalie because the goals are so small, they’re only about 3 feet across using two sticks. The cross country team ran around the field while we played. My they are fast! I got a nice breeze every time they passed. It was a great way to get to know some of the students and start building relationships with them on the first day. I am thankful for that. Towards the end of the game, I was all hot and sweaty and one of the girls said to me, “Madame, (that’s what they call me) the sun is eating you.” I thought it was hilarious. There are a lot of girls here, all with their own stories and needs. It’s a bit overwhelming for in my heart I want to be able to minister to all of them. I pray that I can touch many lives, but also hope and pray that God will draw certain individuals to me to minister to. That’s what Jesus did. Many of the girls here feel pressure to marry and have children at young ages such as 14 or 15. Large families are common and men have multiple wives. Sexual purity is an issue here at Christ school. Please pray that God will use the relationships that are built as a platform to share about healing through Christ, as there are a lot of physical, spiritual, and emotional wounds.
Other than that, I must say that I love it here. There’s something exciting about killing cockroaches and being frightened by lizards. There are lots of livestock here. Lots and lots of goats and chickens. Also, the cows here have horns. Yesterday I was chased off the road by one. He came pretty close to butting me. It was funny. My mosquito net is a huge blessing, I feel safe at night. It’s also miracle that I completely adjusted to the 7 hour time change on my first day. Praise God! I am not tired, I am not sick. I love the food. The missionaries are loving and encouraging.
Travel here on the roads is dangerous. There aren’t many cars, but the cars that do drive drive pretty recklessly. Also, there are dangerous motorized bikes. Pray for language and cultural barriers. It is true that English is spoken here, but the accents are thick and their body language is not affirming like here in the US. Pray that these will not be barriers for presenting the gospel.
I read Habakkuk today and found myself crying out the same things that Habakkuk said to God. Why must I look at such evil? Why is justice perverted? I am finding that I really need eyes of faith to believe that God is working and is bringing healing to this land.
Please also pray for the spiritual battle that has been present in my mind, especially at night time. I have had some very real, very frightening dreams. Pray that I will have faith in God that casts out all fear.
Thank you for all of your support. Much love to you.
Andrea
PS sorry it took so long to update. The Internet here is reliable so I may not be able to update as much as I thought.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Wesayo from Bundibugyo! Travel was long, but we arrived safely on Saturday. The last leg of our journey was on a very small plan from Entebbe to Bundibugyo. The flight was gorgeous and led us to worship our Creator. We were welcomed by a very large crowd of both missionaries and nationals at the air strip. At least a hundred came. It was wonderful. The first couple of days have been spent getting to know the missionaries, the mission, praying, learning the language, and just adjusting overall.
Yesterday was very eye opening. We got a tour around the whole mission. The medical clinic is bigger than I thought. It is crazy to think how peculiar we are about sanitation and sterility in the US hospitals. This clinic is filthy and yet still people are treated and healed. Crowds of people were laying on the floors with children, lots of expectant mothers. We got to the room for sick newborns. Dr. Jennifer pointed out two very sick babies. One was just sick with anemia, a pretty non serious condition in the US. Nothing like aids of malaria. We walked around for a couple more minutes then heard wailing and crying from lots of women. Jennifer went to investigate then came back and said that the anemic baby had just died. It was alive about 2 minutes ago when we saw it. It was so sad. Just a simple blood transfusion would have saved this babies life, but they lack that here. We were told about how a couple of months ago someone was sick and needed an ambulance to Kampala. An ambulance was called, but a politician was in town and paid off the ambulance driver to use the ambulance as a taxi out of here. The sick person died. Such sickness and corruption is sad. But the clinic is doing amazing things. Every day lives are saved and living conditions are improved by it.
We also got a tour around Christ School, where I’ll be teaching. I met my head teacher, Peter Kussima, he teaches chemistry. I observe today and tomorrow, then start teaching on Thursday. He’ll be with me for a week, then I have the class all to myself! I’m teaching S2, which is equivalent to about 8th grade. I just met with him to look at the lesson plans. It is nearing the end of the school year here, there are only 10 weeks left. I will teach about nine of them. The two main topics that I will cover are bases and the periodic table. I teach two classes each day, they are both 45 minutes long, but each class has an extra period each week for lab. Each class has about 40 to 45 students in it! The classroom is so tiny and they don’t have their own textbooks. Fortunately, I have a good textbook that I’ll be able to use to devise the lessons. I want to be a good teacher and I want for them to learn. Peter told me I will have to speak slowly and repeat myself often. Pray for learning to occur and relationships to be built as a tool for ministering.
Yesterday we hung out with the kids from school from 4:30 to six. We do that every day of the week. I wanted to just sit on my porch and chat with the girls, but they recruited me to play soccer. It was a lot of fun, but let me just tell you that a full hour of soccer with Ugandans right on the equator is not easy. I ended up playing goalie for the second half I was so tired. I found out later that they aren’t supposed to have a goalie because the goals are so small, they’re only about 3 feet across using two sticks. The cross country team ran around the field while we played. My they are fast! I got a nice breeze every time they passed. It was a great way to get to know some of the students and start building relationships with them on the first day. I am thankful for that. Towards the end of the game, I was all hot and sweaty and one of the girls said to me, “Madame, (that’s what they call me) the sun is eating you.” I thought it was hilarious. There are a lot of girls here, all with their own stories and needs. It’s a bit overwhelming for in my heart I want to be able to minister to all of them. I pray that I can touch many lives, but also hope and pray that God will draw certain individuals to me to minister to. That’s what Jesus did. Many of the girls here feel pressure to marry and have children at young ages such as 14 or 15. Large families are common and men have multiple wives. Sexual purity is an issue here at Christ school. Please pray that God will use the relationships that are built as a platform to share about healing through Christ, as there are a lot of physical, spiritual, and emotional wounds.
Other than that, I must say that I love it here. There’s something exciting about killing cockroaches and being frightened by lizards. There are lots of livestock here. Lots and lots of goats and chickens. Also, the cows here have horns. Yesterday I was chased off the road by one. He came pretty close to butting me. It was funny. My mosquito net is a huge blessing, I feel safe at night. It’s also miracle that I completely adjusted to the 7 hour time change on my first day. Praise God! I am not tired, I am not sick. I love the food. The missionaries are loving and encouraging.
Travel here on the roads is dangerous. There aren’t many cars, but the cars that do drive drive pretty recklessly. Also, there are dangerous motorized bikes. Pray for language and cultural barriers. It is true that English is spoken here, but the accents are thick and their body language is not affirming like here in the US. Pray that these will not be barriers for presenting the gospel.
I read Habakkuk today and found myself crying out the same things that Habakkuk said to God. Why must I look at such evil? Why is justice perverted? I am finding that I really need eyes of faith to believe that God is working and is bringing healing to this land.
I think that’s it for now. Thank you so much for your prayers! Much love and many prayers to you. May his kingdom come.
Andrea
Yesterday was very eye opening. We got a tour around the whole mission. The medical clinic is bigger than I thought. It is crazy to think how peculiar we are about sanitation and sterility in the US hospitals. This clinic is filthy and yet still people are treated and healed. Crowds of people were laying on the floors with children, lots of expectant mothers. We got to the room for sick newborns. Dr. Jennifer pointed out two very sick babies. One was just sick with anemia, a pretty non serious condition in the US. Nothing like aids of malaria. We walked around for a couple more minutes then heard wailing and crying from lots of women. Jennifer went to investigate then came back and said that the anemic baby had just died. It was alive about 2 minutes ago when we saw it. It was so sad. Just a simple blood transfusion would have saved this babies life, but they lack that here. We were told about how a couple of months ago someone was sick and needed an ambulance to Kampala. An ambulance was called, but a politician was in town and paid off the ambulance driver to use the ambulance as a taxi out of here. The sick person died. Such sickness and corruption is sad. But the clinic is doing amazing things. Every day lives are saved and living conditions are improved by it.
We also got a tour around Christ School, where I’ll be teaching. I met my head teacher, Peter Kussima, he teaches chemistry. I observe today and tomorrow, then start teaching on Thursday. He’ll be with me for a week, then I have the class all to myself! I’m teaching S2, which is equivalent to about 8th grade. I just met with him to look at the lesson plans. It is nearing the end of the school year here, there are only 10 weeks left. I will teach about nine of them. The two main topics that I will cover are bases and the periodic table. I teach two classes each day, they are both 45 minutes long, but each class has an extra period each week for lab. Each class has about 40 to 45 students in it! The classroom is so tiny and they don’t have their own textbooks. Fortunately, I have a good textbook that I’ll be able to use to devise the lessons. I want to be a good teacher and I want for them to learn. Peter told me I will have to speak slowly and repeat myself often. Pray for learning to occur and relationships to be built as a tool for ministering.
Yesterday we hung out with the kids from school from 4:30 to six. We do that every day of the week. I wanted to just sit on my porch and chat with the girls, but they recruited me to play soccer. It was a lot of fun, but let me just tell you that a full hour of soccer with Ugandans right on the equator is not easy. I ended up playing goalie for the second half I was so tired. I found out later that they aren’t supposed to have a goalie because the goals are so small, they’re only about 3 feet across using two sticks. The cross country team ran around the field while we played. My they are fast! I got a nice breeze every time they passed. It was a great way to get to know some of the students and start building relationships with them on the first day. I am thankful for that. Towards the end of the game, I was all hot and sweaty and one of the girls said to me, “Madame, (that’s what they call me) the sun is eating you.” I thought it was hilarious. There are a lot of girls here, all with their own stories and needs. It’s a bit overwhelming for in my heart I want to be able to minister to all of them. I pray that I can touch many lives, but also hope and pray that God will draw certain individuals to me to minister to. That’s what Jesus did. Many of the girls here feel pressure to marry and have children at young ages such as 14 or 15. Large families are common and men have multiple wives. Sexual purity is an issue here at Christ school. Please pray that God will use the relationships that are built as a platform to share about healing through Christ, as there are a lot of physical, spiritual, and emotional wounds.
Other than that, I must say that I love it here. There’s something exciting about killing cockroaches and being frightened by lizards. There are lots of livestock here. Lots and lots of goats and chickens. Also, the cows here have horns. Yesterday I was chased off the road by one. He came pretty close to butting me. It was funny. My mosquito net is a huge blessing, I feel safe at night. It’s also miracle that I completely adjusted to the 7 hour time change on my first day. Praise God! I am not tired, I am not sick. I love the food. The missionaries are loving and encouraging.
Travel here on the roads is dangerous. There aren’t many cars, but the cars that do drive drive pretty recklessly. Also, there are dangerous motorized bikes. Pray for language and cultural barriers. It is true that English is spoken here, but the accents are thick and their body language is not affirming like here in the US. Pray that these will not be barriers for presenting the gospel.
I read Habakkuk today and found myself crying out the same things that Habakkuk said to God. Why must I look at such evil? Why is justice perverted? I am finding that I really need eyes of faith to believe that God is working and is bringing healing to this land.
I think that’s it for now. Thank you so much for your prayers! Much love and many prayers to you. May his kingdom come.
Andrea
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